Rejecting the federal government's attempt to throw out a transgender veteran's sex discrimination lawsuit against the Library of Congress, a federal judge ruled today that the case can go forward. The American Civil Liberties Union brought the lawsuit in June 2005 on behalf of 25-year U.S. Army veteran Diane Schroer who was offered a job as a senior terrorism researcher but was later told she was not a "good fit" after her future boss learned she was in the process of transitioning from male to female.

Excerpt: a. I'm 17. I've been HIV+ since I was 14, so that's 3 years now.

b. I'm a transgender kid. FTM to be more specific. No, if you met me on the street you wouldn't be able to tell. Seriously. I've been on HRT for almost 5 months now, it's a pain in the ass (literally, they're intramuscular injections and your ass cheek is a pretty muscular place) and it's difficult for such a variety of reasons (physically/ emotionally/ mentally/ financially, is the list I usually run off) that I can promise you it's not something I chose.

c. Also, I'm gay. I like the boys. The boys like me. You know how it goes.

This month, Georgetown University Pride is organizing a week of programming themed issues as well as issues of gender norms and expectations. But why is specific programming necessary for these groups when everything that Pride does is meant to apply to the entire LGBTQ community, which clearly includes the 'T'?

Proposed guidelines for sex-education classes in D.C. public schools face opposition from critics who say the standards are biased against abstinence-only education, promote the view that homosexuality is innate and are not age-appropriate.

The Riverdale City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve holding its runoff election on Dec. 4 despite a pending lawsuit claiming openly transgender council member Michelle Bruce lied about her gender.

A transgender woman was shot and robbed in Baltimore in October and police have yet to find the culprit. This crime highlights the violence transgender people face daily and provides extra incentive to attempts at the university to address transgender rights.

[NY,USA] Columbia Law School's Sexuality and Gender Law Clinic Sets a PrecedentSo far this year, Columbia University Law School's Sexuality and Gender Law Clinic has secured political asylum in the U.S. for a gay Jamaican man and for a lesbian from Turkmenistan, who feared persecution for her sexual orientation and political opinions in that mostly Muslim country. These are just two of the cases being handled by the fledgling clinic embarking on an emerging field — sexuality and gender law.

[NH,USA] [Opinion]Difficult journeyI would like to say a few words about the woman Michelle Berke featured in the Nov. 23 Monitor. It seems Michelle started her journey without the help of an experienced gender therapist. This is crucial when starting this journey.I am a male-to-female transsexual and have been living full-time as a woman for a number of years.

[USA] [Blog] No Dumb Questions - Young Nieces of Trans-womanThis candid and touching documentary profiles three children, ages 6, 9, and 11, and their struggle to understand their uncle's transition to becoming their aunt. Their innocence in asking questions regarding gender, sexuality, and identity offers a unique insight into the nature of tolerance and understanding.

[USA] Love Your Body! A Transwoman's Guide to Health & WellnessOur transwomen's bodies come in all colors, shapes and sizes, and all of us need to take care of them. However, good health care can be hard to get, due to discrimination, lack of medical clinicians who understand our needs, and lack of health insurance coverage. To keep our bodies healthy and whole, we must become informed consumers, educating our health care providers and ourselves.

[Australia] [Press Release]Policy on equality for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgenderedWe live in a society which attempts to dictate sexual preference and gender identity through promoting the gender stereotypes and homophobic attitudes which underpin the heterosexual nuclear family, and by promoting marriage and the nuclear family as the only legitimate model for relationships. Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people suffer oppression because their lives are a challenge to the nuclear family which is an economic cornerstone of capitalism.

[ND, USA] [Commentary]Must we respect stupid readers?Excerpt: An irate caller spits bile over our story about a transgender observance. "You people are a bunch of perverts, just like the people you're trying to make heroes – those transgerderites or whatever they call themselves."

[MT, USA] Rally for tolerance set for MondayTwo recent instances of alleged anti-gay violence in Missoula have given three dozen local organizations incentive to hold a community rally aimed at promoting tolerance and awareness.

[AZ, USA] AZ Dems would widen gender-bias job safeguardsArizona lawmakers are condoning injustice by failing to join other states that have banned workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, a Democratic representative says.

[USA] Transgender student elected kingFor Andrew Gomez, the month of November was one of firsts.First, he broke the news to his mother that he was transitioning from a female to a male. Then the 24-year-old transgender student was elected Homecoming King at Pasadena City College.

[NY,USA] A Cover Girl Who’s Simply HimselfWHAT follows is, in brief (well, not so brief), the curious tale of how a handsome black man who can also look an awful lot like a beautiful black woman, except with better legs than most and a beard, happened to end up on the November cover of French Vogue.

In response to Sue White's comment concerning transgendered persons using ''family restrooms where they can be locked [for privacy] when in use," I believe that statement oversimplifies the issue (''Council bans transgender bias; opponents plan to lobby for veto," Nov. 14 article).

I feel compelled to reply to the outrageous comments regarding my actual statements during a Nov. 13 County Council meeting verses what was reported in the Nov. 14 article, ''Council bans transgender bias; opponents plan to lobby for veto."

My ''Heil Hitler" comment was clearly directed at the council president for the Nazi-like manner in which she ran the vote and would not tolerate public input.

As I prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, I am reminded of the autumnal harvest time's spiritual significance. As a time of connectedness, I pause to acknowledge what I have to be thankful for. But I also reflect on the holiday as a time of remembrance—historical and familial.

County commissioners voted 5-1 today, with Commission Chairwoman Addie Greene dissenting, to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression. The decision will add gender identity as a "protected class" in the county's equal employment ordinance. Commissioner Mary McCarty referred to it as the "lipstick and high heels" rule.

[Nepal]Sexual minorities warn of agitation against 'discrimination'Gays, lesbians and transvestites, who earlier used to take out peaceful parades in the streets of Kathmandu to make their presence felt, have this time vowed to wage a protest movement if the government doesn't ensure their representation in the Constituent Assembly (CA) election.

[Chile]Thousands Attend Chile's Gay ParadeOver 20,000 people attended Chile's Gay Parade 2007 on Friday, hosted by the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Freedom (Movilh). This figure represents the largest turnout ever for an event promoted by the organization.

[Australia]Transgender woman 'disgusted' at political adA Tasmanian transgender woman has lodged a complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Commission about a television advertisement authorised by Timber Communities Australia.

[NC, USA] [Letters to the Editor]Respect isn't only for those who conform to the normWhile riding the bus into campus from Carrboro on Tuesday, I was embarrassed and dismayed by the behavior of my fellow passengers - UNC students included - towards a transgender woman who shared the bus with us.

[CO, USA]Court dodges whether sex stereotyping theory applies to transsexualsThe Tenth Circuit Court Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a transsexual employee's Title VII claim, choosing not to decide whether discrimination based on an employee's failure to conform to sex stereotypes always constitutes discrimination "because of sex" and whether such a claim may extend Title VII protections to transsexuals who act and appear as a member of the opposite sex.

[GA, USA]Transgender candidate misled voters, suit allegesTwo unsuccessful Riverdale City Council candidates have asked a judge to halt an upcoming runoff election, alleging fraud by a candidate who ran as a woman and tampering with voting machines by the city clerk.

IT MAY just be the falling leaves and darkening skies, but something seems to have got very grey and grim in our neighbourhood. We're missing something, some local colour. I realised yesterday what it was- it was Des. Where the hell has he/she gone?

A call for more clinics and treatment for children at an early stage in their growth

[FL, USA] [News/Events]Event aims for acceptance for transgendered

Fired Largo city manager Susan Stanton, Emmy award-winning musician Faith Rivera, Nadine Smith from Equality Florida and clergy from four congregations will take part in a transgender day of remembrance service at 7 p.m. Monday at Unity Church of Clearwater, 2465 Nursery Road. The service will remember those killed because of transgender hatred or prejudice, express a commitment to the worth and dignity of every person and encourage people to say no to discrimination and practice acceptance and understanding of all people.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Since 1999, the event has grown to encompass memorials in dozens of cities across the world.

Nakia Ladelle Baker died in January in Tennessee as a result of blunt force trauma to the head. Keittirat Longnawa was beaten by nine youths in Thailand, who then slit her throat. In March, Moira Donaire was stabbed five times by a street vendor in Chile. The body of Michelle Carrasco was discovered in a pit in Chile, her face unrecognisable.

Lauren Adamski has been dating a transgender individual for three years.

Her partner appears masculine but has a feminine name. When her partner's name is called in public - when picking up a prescription, for example - people assume that it belongs to Adamski. Of course, the assumption is wrong and causes confusion and strange looks.

To honor Transgender Day of Remembrance, HERO held a panel discussion on transgender issues followed by a screening of "Boys Don't Cry'" and a question-and-answer discussion session at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Jepson Wolff Auditorium.

The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance in metro Detroit today for those killed because of anti-transgender hatred will recognize a transgendered Holland youth who recently committed suicide, organizers say.

This isn't a movie. A two hour feature where lipstick is applied, stereotypes glimmer in cheap sequins, and the violent death scene is cut away just before the first blow. No, transgender violence can't be described in a feature film.

San Francisco has tentatively approved a program to provide identification cards to illegal immigrants, transgender people and other residents who may be unable or unwilling to get a state-issued driver's license.